Some Dubai landlords spend up to Dh45,000 after tenants instal illegal partitions

Khaleej Times

6 days ago

While Dubai authorities intensify inspections on illegal partitions in residential buildings, it's not just tenants who are being affected, but homeowners too who are facing serious consequences, often without their knowledge.
S.L., a homeowner in Dubai Marina, discovered the hard way how illegal modifications by a tenant can lead to expensive and long-term damage.
'My tenant illegally sublet my house to more than eight people,' she said. 'They changed the locks, installed a shower in the powder room, and created partitions. I couldn't access my own house for months.'
By the time she managed to enter her apartment, it had become almost unrecognisable.
'There was mold everywhere because the airflow was blocked by the partitions,' she said. 'All the doors in the house had swollen because of the constant moisture caused by the shower.'
S.L. ended up spending Dh45,000 over four months to renovate the property and make it liveable again. 'The maintenance issues didn't stop immediately either. They continued for about a year and a half. It took a long time to get my house back to its original state,' she said.
Landlords caught off guard
Some homeowners said they were unaware tenants had converted their apartments into partitioned spaces or bed spaces, violating building codes and causing structural and ventilation issues.
N. Ahmed, who owns a 2BHK flat in Al Barsha, said he only realised his apartment had been altered when the new building watchman raised a complaint.
'I had given the flat to a bachelor working in retail. During the agreement, he told me he would be staying with his family and his brother's family. But the reality was different,' said Ahmed.
He explained that the previous watchman had turned a blind eye and even assisted tenants in creating bed spaces and partitions.
'The new watchman, who joined in May, warned the tenants first. When they didn't listen, he called me and informed me about the situation.'
Ahmed said he was shocked when he came to check the apartment. 'I saw four people living inside, with curtains separating each section,' he recalled. 'They had turned part of the kitchen into a sleeping area and blocked one of the vents with plywood.'
He has since stopped renting to individuals without conducting a full background check. 'It's just not worth the risk,' he said.
Similarly, Mona, who owns two apartments in Dubai Marina, faced difficulties after one of her tenants sublet her unit through social media platforms.
'When I read the news about the Dubai Municipality crackdown, I decided to visit the flat on Sunday morning. What I saw shocked me. There were about 12 people staying in the 2BHK,' said Mona.
'The place was divided into five tiny cubicles. There was no proper ventilation, and the washroom had been modified,' she said. 'I asked everyone to vacate immediately and told the original tenant that only their family can stay, or else the contract would be dissolved. They agreed to terminate the contract.'
Mona said she spent Dh12,000 to dismantle the cubicles, clean, and repaint the apartment.
'Even after cleaning and repainting, the flat still smells musty. Right now, it's empty, and even potential tenants feel something is wrong because of the smell,' she added.